One killed in police firing in West Bengal

Kolkata, July 29 (IANS) One person was killed after police fired at a violent mob protesting over a land dispute in West Bengal’s North Dinajpur district Thursday, police said. District Additional Superintendent of Police Annappa E said that the clash broke out over a disputed land under the possession of a school at Srikrishnapur village under Islampur sub-division.

The victim has been identified as Dipak Mirdha, 30, of Srikrishnapur village, he said.

A team of officials from land and land reforms department, who went to inspect the land were attacked by local villagers and the students of the Srikrishnapur High School. The block land and land reforms officer (BLLRO) and some other officials were injured in the attack.

“When police rushed to the spot, they also came under attack. The violent mob fired at the police and torched three police vehicles. To bring the situation under control, police first baton charged but it was futile,” he said.

“Then we had to fire a few rounds in which one person was killed,” Annappa said.

However, local people said two people were killed in the firing.

The local people alleged that police fired after the villagers prevented the officials from forcefully reclaiming the land now under the possession of the school.